The Gym

Hayes has been taking gymnastics classes for about 3 years now.  He started upstairs and took a parent/tot class for a little while.  I venture to say it was one of the best times we had as parents!  We had a great class and spent a lot of time with those people.  There were 2 parents per kid (most of the time) and we all crammed into that classroom week after week.  We also had an amazing instructor who let us cram in there and play with our kids!  

Hayes LOVES to go to gymnastics.  He has now moved downstairs and takes a 'big boy' class with older boys.  He has a blast while he's there and has really learned a lot in the last few months.  We are looking forward to many more years of gymnastics with our cheese ball!

Elizabeth started taking gymnastics as soon as she turned 1.  She has been quite the star in class and out of class.  She often makes up her own routines and pays very little attention to her directions and mostly does whatever she wants to do!  However, she does enjoy the stamps on her hands at the end, so she always follows directions during that part of class.  Stinker!  Here she is modeling her medal and trophy at the 'end of the year' program.  She's a cutie!

Sleep

This is what car seat sleep looks like after a weekend in Chattanooga with your cousins.

This is baby sleep.

Sisters

In August of 2013 we found out we were pregnant with #3.  I remember distinctly being thrilled and scared all at the same time.  We decided to share our news with our family at Libby's 2nd birthday party.  We got the kids t-shirts made and waited for everyone to notice.  Leigh Anne was the first to notice and she ran out to confirm that what she read on Lib's shirt was indeed true.  It was.  

So I began to think about who that child would be.  Would it be a boy?  I wanted the last one to be a boy so bad.  I just wanted one little girl... and she was a handful, trust me.  She's enough little girl for all of the world.  Seriously.  I love her, but man, she's exhausting.  Well, fastforwrd 16 weeks and we found out it was another little girl.  Daryk and I were just glad to find out what 'IT' was... and 'IT' was a SHE!

More PINK, more hairbows, more glitter, more sass!  Can we handle that?  Are we ready for a repeat of Libby J?  Yikes!  The more I thought about it, the more I wanted that little girl.  I mean, what is better than sisters?  After all, I have two of my own and I love them with every fiber of my being.  I cannot imagine this world without them.  They are often the first and last people I communicate with on a daily basis.  

They GET me.  They get the strange things that make me, ME.  They are often the first people to point out things I neglect, things I didn't want to be reminded of, and things I need to work on.  They are the two women who help to raise my babies and love on them like an extra momma.  My sisters are irreplaceable.  They are amazing and I cannot imagine my life without them.  I am beyond thankful that my girls have each other.  They will be there to walk in front of each other at their weddings.  They will stand beside each other on those days as well.  They will share things and fix hair and steal clothes and all of those girly things.  Sisters are girlfriends and best friends and enemies all at the same time.

My sisters are my favorite people and I'm hoping that my girls will grow up with the same love.

Family Weekend

I went out of town for a conference for work.  I got the following pictures while I was gone.

Dinner Friday night.... with Kendall, their BFF cousin.

Shopping on Saturday with Grandma at Walmart.  I cringed at this photo as I would need meds to shop at Walmart.  On a Saturday.  With my children.  Yikes.

But it looks like they had fun and were sweet.

Big Girl Bed

My baby girl moved from her baby bed to the big girl bed shortly before Spencer was born.  This is a great visual of what it looks like when she sleeps.  Crazy.  Just all over the place.  Also, we are down to TWO pacis in this house and she keeps chewing on them.  After the last one is gone, its gone forever.  I'm thinking that we might lose them all before we go to Hilton Head next week... and they will be gone forever.  Yes?  Does that make me a bad parent?  Probably yes.  Ask me if I'm real concerned.... wait, actually don't.  

Its Wedding Day

About a month ago my gorgeous sister got married.  Not this one, the other one.  They are both gorgeous though!  I was so proud to stand by her side as she married one of my favorite men in the whole world.  We are thrilled to have Buddy as an official part of the family now.  I am not sure how he feels, but I know the Cochrans love having him around and cannot wait for him to be back home!  The wedding was an absolute blast!  We spent time with some of our Charleston family and we had a grand time.  The food was fantastic as well.  We had a low country boil on Friday night and gourmet grilled cheese on Saturday.  Actually, we had a lot of food on Saturday, but I don't remember much past the giant ice cream sandwich I had.  I almost died from chocolate overload.  God bless the ice cream truck.  Heavenly!  I love weddings!  

So, send me an invite!

My fellow matron of honor, Kitty.

Two of my lovelies--Jordan and Elizabeth waiting out the rain.

My kids were rock stars for this wedding!  It was awesome to watch them!

Also, aren't they so beautiful & handsome!?

Mr & Mrs Orol dining al fresco after the vows...

Dance party for the bride and groom.  

Love you both!  

We cannot wait to see how God blesses your life together.

The fan club

Apparently I'm not the only one who loves her dearly...

My kids are so blessed that their great grandparents are around to play with them.  Having GREAT grands is super special... for all the grands involved, myself included.  

And there is just something special about sibling love.  I can't quite put my finger on it, but man... they love each other and I just love watching them.  

And then there is this guy.  Y'all, he's so specail to my kids.  Well, he's special to all of us, but he is extra special to the babies.  They love him like no other human being.  He is someone they ask about often and I know they miss him while he's working 'far away'.  We are so blessed to have him as our newest addtion to our ever growing family!  Love you Uncle B!  

New Kid on the Block

Something happened with this baby.  She turned my heart into mush.  I have never spent so much time just loving on a baby.  I feel like I need a few extra hours each day just to absorb this bundle of cuteness.  This post partum recovery has been the most challenging for me, but this baby girl is worth every minute!

Also, she's got lots of rolls.  And wrinkles... and creases... and I hate having to wash her hands.  She keeps them all clenched up like that and they trap all sorts of grossness.  Fuzz and hair and they stink.  Why is that?  The wrinkles in her feet also get dirty.  She's almost 2 months old.  How is that even possible?

We are about at the end of the 0-3 month clothing.  She has gotten so much longer in the last 2-3 weeks.  She also continues to pack on the lbs, so her clothes are getting a little bit snug.  She's not a huge fan of tummy time, bath time, or being cold and naked, makes for diaper changing challenges.  She loves to snuggle, nurse, and smile at her siblings.  She likes a blanket close to her face while she sleeps and she loves a paci!  She takes a bottle like a champ and nurses just fine also!  She is also super chatty for a tiny baby.  

Thief.

Anybody else have an almost 3 year old who wants to share/steal all their food?  I'm hoping it is not just me.  This little girl is all into the foods that everyone else is eating and she wants to steal it.  I've just learned that I must share with her.  I figure that I'm sharing with her and she likes to eat good food.  She actually likes to eat all the foods...unlike her brother who eats 5 things.  

Fries for dinner...

...marshmallows for dessert...